Tuesday, January 19, 2010

January 22nd: Stand Up Against the Anti-Abortion Movement

This year, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade takes on increased significance. After the murder of Dr. Tiller, the increased violence and threats, Stupak-Pitts and the ensuing, continuing national hysteria against women's right to birth control and abortion, all in one year… the anti-abortion movement is planning their annual "March for Life" on the Supreme Court. World Can't Wait is calling for counter-protest on Jan. 22nd starting at 8am, lasting all day. Click here for the Facebook invitation. While the "March for Life" is scheduled to start at 12noon, the antis start gathering first thing in the morning and make a day of it. In Wichita, the local chapter of the National Organization for Women has planned a candlelight vigil in honor of Dr. George Tiller - starting at 7pm at the Unitarian Church. Click here for the Facebook invitation. If you are not in the D.C. or Wichita area, you can hold your own public declaration of resistance!

There's a lot happening this month. See below for updates on each of these...

When Does Murder Become Manslaughter?When does a charge of murder get reduced to a charge of manslaughter? Possibly, when the murder victim is a doctor who does abortions.
Scott Roeder is on trial in Wichita KS for the murder of Dr. George Tiller on May 31, 2009. Roeder, an anti-abortion activist for many years well known around Kansas, admitted to authorities that he killed Dr. Tiller by barging into the church where George was ushering, and shooting him. George died immediately; Roeder fled, and was caught within a day. (read more at debra.worldcantwait.net)Film: Abortion, Morality and the Liberation of WomenA 30-minute film, "Abortion, Morality and the Emancipation of Women" with Dr. Susan Wicklund, author of This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor and Sunsara Taylor, writer for Revolution newspaper, will soon be available for classroom use, on DVD and on Youtube. More details here.

Abortion Rights Speakers for High School and College ClassesABORTION IS NOT MURDER. FETUSES ARE NOT BABIES. WOMEN ARE NOT INCUBATORS! A whole generation of women and men have been kept in the dark from these basic facts, and left disarmed in the face of this anti-women movement that will not stop nor find "common ground" with women's right to control the most basic of decisions affecting their lives. World Can't Wait has been working to bring the truth about abortion and women's rights to students with scientific and moral clarity, answering the hard questions, and motivating students to stand up at this crucial moment. Click here to learn how you can join in and participate, too!
This past week, Cat Givens, an activist from Akron who also traveled to Omaha to defend Dr. Carhart this past summer, was invited to speak at a Cleveland high school classroom. Read the report.

Update on Petition for Dr. CarhartWorld Can't Wait launched a petition in support of Dr. LeRoy Carhart in late December 2009 reading, in part, "Dr. LeRoy Carhart is a dedicated, caring abortion provider with decades of practice providing medical care to women in need of abortion. After the assassination of his colleague Dr. George Tiller this past spring, he has taken up the cause to 'Trust Women' and continued his practice in the face of threats both violent and legal. He is the sort of courageous, principled person who we as a society should support, honor and respect."Update! 1,249 signatures were delivered to the Attorney General on December 21st. Read the press release here. We are still collecting signatures and messages for future use, though, so keep telling your friends about it.Debra Sweet, Director, The World Can't Wait